Wild-card games on ABC a hit with viewers
Associated Press
The NFL wild-card playoff games on ABC drew the network's highest ratings for that round in four years.
The late afternoon game between Indianapolis and the New York Jets had a 15.1 overnight rating Saturday, topping the 14.9 of a year ago for the Tampa Bay-Philadelphia game.
New York's 41-0 victory, which had a 29 share, was the highest-rated early game on ABC since 1999 when Buffalo played Miami. That game had a 17.9 rating and a 37 share.
The night game in which Atlanta beat Green Bay, 27-7, Saturday drew an 18.4 rating and a 29 share, 18 percent higher than last year's Jets-Oakland game. The Falcons' win was the highest-rated late game since Arizona and Dallas played in 1999.
Both of Saturday's games were 24-0 at halftime.
The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether they are in use. Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of the country. Each overnight rating point represents about 735,000 TV homes.
GIANTS
• Shockey dumps water on fan: New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey threw a cup of ice water over his head and splashed a child in the first quarter of the NFC playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers yesterday.
The emotional Shockey, who often alienates opposing fans and players by his demonstrative nature, was being heckled by fans at the time. Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said no one was hurt, and the rookie tight end was not restrained by security.
It happened shortly after Shockey thought linebacker Julian Peterson had held him on an incomplete third-down pass.
"I think it was an act of frustration," Hanlon said.
The boy was given a football by the Giants.
BENGALS
• Special teams coach fired: Cincinnati fired special teams coach Al Roberts yesterday.
The announcement, made on the team's Web site, was the first coaching move by the Bengals since firing head coach Dick LeBeau on Dec. 30.
Special teams yielded touchdowns on three punt returns, a kickoff and a blocked punt this year for the Bengals, who were 2-14 — the worst record in franchise history.
The Bengals have interviewed five candidates for the head coaching job: Washington defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, former Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson.
49ERS
• CB Webster misses game: Cornerback Jason Webster missed San Francisco's playoff game yesterday against the New York Giants with a sprained ankle.
Webster has been a starter for all three of his seasons with the 49ers. He had one interception this season, but hurt his ankle in San Francisco's loss to St. Louis in the regular-season finale.
Rookie Mike Rumph started in Webster's place.
